the dark knight rises

Using an AMC gift card that I got from Kristy (one of her students gave it to her at the end of the year, but there are no AMC theaters in Utah) I invited Steven and Kristen to go see the new Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" today.  

I wasn't sure what to expect since the only review I heard was from one of the girls who visit teaches me and...well...she's not a very reliable source.  Her review was something like, "I don't know what happened because I don't like action movies and don't pay attention so I never know what's going on."

....

She's weird.

But, that aside, I liked the movie.  

The thing I didn't like: that the bad guy was hard to understand half the time because of the way he talked.  They either needed to think of a different way to make him more easily understood, or put subtitles in.  There were a couple times when I felt like I was missing important dialogue that was pertinent to the story line.    

The thing I loved: the cameo appearance of Scarecrow!  I know I've mentioned it before, but I have a HUGE crush on Cillian Murphy and his unexpected appearance in the movie put a BIG smile on my face.  

Also, I loved Joseph Gordon-Leavitt.  Who would have thought that the little boy from Angles in the Outfield would grow up into such a hottie?! And such a GREAT actor!

Bottom line: if you liked the other Batman movies with Christian Bale, than you'll like this one too.  :)

summer olympics

Here's something you may not know about me:  I love watching the Olympics and one of the things on my bucket list is to one day actually be at the opening ceremony.  I am still kicking myself for not going when it was in Salt Lake and I was going to school in St. George...

This year, the XXX Summer Games are being held in London.

Last night was the opening ceremony.  Originally, Katy and I had planned to go to a quilting/fabric store after work yesterday but that got cancelled because I ended up deciding to get a security system installed and had to be home right after work for the guy to come over and finish the install.  After he left this is what we did instead:

We ordered fish and chips from George and Dragon, which is an English Pub in Phoenix and happens to be just down the street from where Katy and John live.  Getting my order was...interesting...let me just say that that was my first time actually being in a bar/pub and I didn't like it.  Here's what I don't understand:  it's SO LOUD.  How do you hear the people you're with, first of all, and how do you not end up totally deaf by the end of the night?!  It just doesn't seem like a fun thing to me to be sitting in the middle of a rock concert just to have a couple drinks while everyone around me is yelling just to be heard by the person sitting two feet away from them.  I don't get it....

Anyway, I got my food, then drove over to Katy and John's apartment and we watched the opening ceremonies together while enjoying our English dinner.  It wasn't my favorite opening ceremony ever, but it had it's moments.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some guys in speedos to drool over--I mean cheer for!!

secret identity

Sometimes when I'm at work and I have to badge in and out of the parking garage and the security gates at the front of my building I feel like I'm some sort of secret agent. When I go to Safeway I have a secret identity.  When I go grocery shopping I stop being Cheryl McLaws and become Mrs. Ronald Roberts.  I'm not sure how I became Mrs. Roberts, but that's the name tied to my Safeway loyalties account when I punch in my phone number when I'm checking out.  Sometimes I wonder if I'm like Jason Bourne and I really AM a secret agent but I've forgotten my past life and when I had to have my memory wiped and was put into witness protection as one: Cheryl McLaws--an unassuming, overweight, single Mormon girl from Mesa, AZ--someone forgot to change my Safeway loyalties account name and that's my one clue to who I really am.  


I wonder if Ronald misses me...

haboobed!

I told you I cleaned the pool just in time for another summer storm...

This was the fastest moving one I've seen/experienced so far.  It popped up on the horizon and within seconds it blew through town completely blocking out the sun.  It was eerie.  Then about a half hour later the rain came.  It rained heavily for about an hour and then everything was gone.  It made me chuckle when a weather alert came on over the TV--20 minutes AFTER the dust storm blew through town.  Good job, guys!

These summer storms are always so awe-inspiring with their size and power.  I just wish they didn't leave my pool so disgusting afterwards...

today i...

...unclogged two drains (tub and bathroom sink)
...fixed my pool vacuum
...vacuumed and skimmed the pool (just in time for another storm)
...cleaned the bathroom
...dusted and vacuumed my bedroom and the front room
...took a shower
...went grocery shopping
...enjoyed a Jamba Juice
...watched my first episode of Virgin Diaries (...there are no words...)
...put together and ordered photo books from my birthday vacation
...updated my blog

oregon coast birthday vacation

Alright!  Here are the pics from my trip.  First day: Burgerville for lunch with an Oregon raspberry shake!

Our hotel room in Lincoln City was great!  The hotel was really nice, the beds were fantasically comfy, and everything was clean.

Don't ever follow this sign.  It's not a beach.  And it's dumb.

Kristy took me to Fogarty Creek which is where we ended up spending the most beach time.

While we were sitting at Fogerty I saw a whale spout!  And we're pretty sure we saw a seal.

Blackberry bushes were everywhere.  Kind of sad it wasn't quite blackberry season yet so I could sneak a few.

Looking down at Fogarty from farther up the road.

Kristy's cocoon.  She was so comfy she didn't even hear the alarm go off Saturday morning.  Twice!

Tillamook cheese factory!  It's not as cool as I remember it being from when I was younger, but the cheese and ice cream were still as delicious!

They changed the name of my favorite ice cream flavor.  Used to be Brown Cow, now it's Udderly Chocolate.  It was so good we went back again on Tuesday and got a cone as we drove through on our way up north!

In "The Loaf" :)

Slight detour as Kristy looked up directions on her phone for our next stop.

Eating cheese curds!

We decided to take the "Three Capes Scenic Way" on the way back from Tillamook.  First stop: Cape Meares and the Octopus Tree.

After Cape Meares we went back to our hotel, but first stopped at the grocery store to by food for Sunday and find some birthday cake for me!  Our search turned out to be more complicated than originally thought.  The first store we went to didn't have any cake.  What?!  So we had to go to another one and finally found some.  When we were back in our room Kristy found a couple videos on YouTube of NSYNC singing "Happy Birthday" and played them for me.  This is why we're besties!  :)

Sunday we went to Sacrament Meeting in Lincoln City, then rented a couple movies from Redbox (We Bought A Zoo, Real Steel, and War Horse) and just stayed in our room veggies, watching movies, and reading--basically all the things we usually do when we're together!

Monday we headed down south to Newport.  First stop of the day was Cape Foulweather.

Devil's Punchbowl--which we basically found by accident.  We were trying to find it by following the signs, but got lost.  We ended up following some signs to a winery and ended up at the punchbowl.  Go figure!?

Spazzy Puffin at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.  We saw all the animals, but the sea otters were my favorite.  I love them!

This fish was giving everyone the stink-eye.  Not really sure why.  He just woke up crabby, I guess.

Spider Crabs = terrifying.

We ate at Mo's at the Historic Bayfront in Newport.  I had their famous clam chowder (which was delicious) and Kristy had the halibut sandwich.

Then we shared a piece of marionberry cobbler which was THE BEST THING OF MY LIFE!  I would go back JUST for a piece of this cobbler.  Seriously!  It was like Oregon in a bowl!

The restaurant looked right out onto the harbor where all the deep sea fishing boats left from and docked at. A couple boats came in as we were finishing, so we went out to watch them cleaning the fish.

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Back at Fogarty Creek.  Kristy made a "sandman."

Digging for agates.

Why yes, we did buy $32 worth of salt water taffy!  It was awesome!

Tuesday we checked out and decided to drive up north to Seaside and Astoria just for the heck of it.

Our matching nail polish from our pedicures on Friday morning.

The bridge between Oregon and Washington in Astoria.  Driving into town we decided we wanted to go up to Longbeach just because!

But first, we stopped at The Aster Column.  Random, but cool, and a great view!

Beard's Hollow

Northhead Lighthouse in Washington

Cape Disappointment, Washington

Kristy's new friend at the Fort Canby store in the Lewis and Clark National Park.

On the Washington side of the bridge.  I love how it disappears into the fog.  Very mysterious...

And that's all I took!  As stated previously, it was a GREAT trip.  I can't think of a better way to spend my 30th birthday than with my best friend and in a place I love.  Not sure how I'm going to top this next year, but I'm going to think of something...